davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1887-10-05
Comparisons are Dangerous.


Johnny was guilty of an infraction OF
household law, and the frowning mother
reached for her slipper.
Here, mother, said Johnny, soberly,
eff you're goin' to do anything like that
use the fire shovel. Your slipper amt
half big enough to do any sort of good"
The slipper was five, several sizes
wider than the fire shovel, but Johnny's
mother was q woman, and he got a
cookie with rasins in it, in lieu of a
padding.
Two hours later Johnny related his
scheme to little Dick, who slowed it
away in his not very capacious tow-head
for future use.
An occasion came betimes. "Mother,
cried little Dick in his fulsome eager
ness to be of service to the angry dame,
"use the snow shovel. Your slipper is
too big"
When little Dick recovered from the
effect of the seance that followed, he
sought out Johnny and gave him a
sound thrashing.
Johnnys shrewdness, it is thus seen,
could not preserve him from this result
of another's stupidity, which is often
the case in this world, and shows the
folly of sharing valuable but danger
Gus secret with a blunder-head.-Binq-
hampton Republican.
The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1887-10-05
Fruit Gardens OF the Sahara.

It ia we'll known that the Sahara is not
everywhere synonymous with desert, and
that region, despite the dryness of its
climate and the general aridity of its
surface, possesses many a well-cultivated
and thickly inhabited GASES, where the
combination of the two elements of sun
and water has produced marvels in the
way of vegetation. The Lower Sahara
is an immense basin of artcsian waters,
and at times there is a superabundance !;
but the number of cultivated tracts is
increasing very rapidly, there being no
fewer than forty-three oases in the Oued.
Rir which. after period Of thirty years,
has 13. 900 inhabitants, $50 palm trees in
full bcaring-that is, which have been
planted more than seven vcars-120. 600
trees between ono and seven years old,
and 100, 600 fruit trees, while the value
of the dates grown each year averages
100000. The oases of Laghonat and
Oucd- Mizi and those of Yeryvile and
Ain-Sana have 100, 900 palm trees, and
those of Figuig 100000, while Mzab.
with its 80, 600 inhabitants. nearly all
shepherds or merchants, cultivates 600
600. Zab, together with the Sahara slope
of the Auces, has fifty oases, which grow
900, 900 palm trees and 5OO,O fruit
trees. Sout, with population Of 15,00a.
has $50, 900 palm trees of the choicest
kind and over 80, 600 fruit trees. Lastly.
the various oases of Ouargla have over
400, 900 palm trees and 100000 fruit
trees. All these results, to say nothing
of the trade in wool, the cultivation ot
tobacco. vegetables, corn. the vine, and
other things grown beneath the shelter Of
the palm trees, and of the raising OF
ostriches, which, it is considered. nigh;
be male as profitable rs it is at the Cape.
have been arrived at partly. by the
natives and partly by the French, though
the latter had not begun to colonize
Sahara until within the last ten years.
They began by buying oases and gardens
in the Zab and the OucdRir, and after
that they set to work to form fresh oascs
in the region of Bishra, and especially in
the Quad Rir.-PaU Mall Gazette.
The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1887-10-05
A Race Of Monkey Men.

The we'll known traveller, NJ. Ed Plau-
chut, contributes to the Recue Scienty-
ique an interesting study of the native
inhabitants of Luzon, the largest and
most important of the PHILIPPINE Islands.
They are divided into two races, the ne
gritos and the savsges, altogether COM
Drising some fifteen tribes more or less
distinct in type and costume. The ne
gr:tos, supposed to be the aborigines, are
dwarfs, averaging about four and half
feet in height, but are we'll formed.
Huts or villages are unknown among
them, but they sleep where night finds
them. Their strongest characteristic is
their love of freedom. When one of
their number dies they attribute it to
some evil influence, and avenge the dead
by killing some person of another race,
and are constantly at war among them
selves and with the savages. These diff
fer in most respects from the negrltos.
Their toes are very far apart, and are
used like fingers, they being able to pick
up the smallest thing with them. Some
have even been seen to descend tree
head foremost, using their feet like
a monkey. They have all some idea OF
a supreme being, one tribe worshiping,
god who had two sons and two daugh-
tiers, from whom descended the human
race. They defy such things as the rain,
powder, the metals and celtain trees, as
we'll as truth and noble deeds. They
have bad spirits also, as darkness, lying
and some diseases; but neither good or
bad have any sacred places. "What need
of temples" say they, "for beings who
fear neither wind, sun nor rain?" They
chafe under the Spanish yoke, and praise
the apes for their cunning, saying
"They do not speak for fear of being
obliged to pay taxes.-New YORK. Post.
The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1887-10-05
Neither Bull Nor Bear.

Once down in Wall street it is hard to
get away, as many a man knows to his
cost. The sudden revival of interest In
the career of the Northern Pacific Rail
way reminds me of an anecdote heard
Jaw Cooke tell of himself when he was
among the powers of the Stock Exchange
and the chief promoter of that newly
conceived railroad enterprise, the inspi-
ration of which was the brilliant start
made by the Union Pacific. According
to his own assertion, Jay Cooke was not
a speculator in the usual sense of that
word. While his Northern Pacific was
really a gigantic speculation, he was
never an Operator at the Stock Ex-
change. His failure was due not to
gambling at the board, but to the invest
ment of all his own and his depositors'
money in advances for the construction
of that -oad. Why he was not an opera
tor he related as follows:
"Gentlemen," said he to the little
party gathered about him, 81 learned
early in my experience Wall street that
speculation was not my line. In the be-
ginning of that experience was bull.
I bought some stock, but the price went
down, down, until was very unhappy
over the mistake I had made in not SELL
ing short. Jumped to the conclusion
that ought to be bear. A bear l be-
came, at once. I sold out that stock and
sold as much more short Then the
market changed and the stock went up,
up, until was just as unhappy as be-
fore. covered at another heavy loss,
and then came to the conclusion that |
was neither bull nor bear, but an ass. y
-Brook!yn Citizen.
The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1887-10-05
Perseverance, Rewarded.

He boarded the train at Rochester and
came to the only vacant seat in the car,
beside young lady.
"This seat taken, ma'am"
"No."
"Well, then, I guess I'll sit down"
Two minutes silence.
"Have some peanuts, ma'am"
"No, l thank you,"
"Jim:ny, don't you like pcanutss
Just like nv wife. My great holt is pea
nuts and bananers. Perhaps you'd like
a bananer, ma'am2'
"No. nothing, thank you"
olive up in Buffalo, maam"
eyes"
"p'rhaps you know my friend Cap'n
Jack Sloan, lives down in Elk street."
"No, 1 don't know where Elk street
"By gol and you live in Buffalo.
WHY, I've sold butter on Elk street
market nigh onto twenty years. MY
name is johnson. Your name amt
Jones, is it2'
"No."
"'Taint Williams, or anything Of that
kind2"
"No."
s'That's what I thought. I don't
s'pose now it's Brown or any o. them
colors2"
"No."
"Been far2"
''Not far"
"syracuse, mebbe; or Albany, chi"
The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1887-10-05
DOWN A CREVASSE.
BY LUKE SHARP.

'.Now," said DR.. Bunts, "I'll tell you
what we must have. We don't want a
common guide. We want guide with
a story. When I reach place 1 always
look out for some fellow who has had
an unusual experience. In such spot
as this there must be dozens of men who
have had thrilling experiences. Right
here at the foot of Mont Blanc there
must be men who"
eyes, but look here" I interrupted,
"you have to take the guides as they
come. understand that there are about
240 guides in Chamonix, and that the
traveller has no choice. They are engaged
In rotation"
''True," answered the Doctor, "but
there are exceptions to this rule. A lady
going alone, for instance, has her choice
Of guides. You can talk English only,
and that at times not unmixed with
slang, so you can choose a guide that
talks what you call your language, and
as for me have the privilege OF taking
any guide wish"
"Why you more than another2"
because I am member of the AL
pine Club"
The Doctor was rather peculiar man.
I imagine that if it had not been for q
misfortune he would have become a
noted physician. This misfortune was
the death of an uncle, who left him d
large fortune. Then the Doctor gave up
practice, gave up his body to travel and
his mind to mystical science, as he was
pleased to call it. He expected to make
some great discoveries in the way of mes
merism. Even while he travelled he was
continually experimenting with anybody
who would allow him to experiment or
him. He said that the great discovery OF
the present century was electricity, and
that the great discovery of the coming
century would be the utilization of tina,
mysterious force of which we get indica'
tions in mind reading and that sort o.
thing. Electricity, he said, was only
family known at the beginning Of the
century, while now it is a household ne
cessity.
He certainly did some wonderful
things with people in the mesmerit
trance. He would put person to sleeT
and have him actually describe the inte
rior of a house thousands of miles away
known only to one of the auditors. Once
the sleeper vividly told how murder
had been done that he had never befor'
heard Of The Doctor expects that wher
he gives the result of his researches II
his forthcoming book it will be imPossi
BILE for any murderer to hide his crime.
When the Doctor and I went to tn
office of the guides to secure our man
the result of the Doctors inquiries wa
tina. Hertyof was the very man w
wanted. Hertzof some years before h NJ
The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1887-10-05
A Gypsy Song.

Edgar L. Wakeman, writing from
Maine to the St. Louis Glo5e-Democrat
about American gypsies, relates this in
teresting incident: The true significance
and flavor of the gypsy song are only
got after real study of the gypsy char
acter, proper comprehension of that
singular principle of gypsy nature which
holds fox-like alertness to be an endless
requisite, and in retaining the inner
true essence and meaning of "Chee, 1"
which is the Romany for 'be alert, I"
''hist," 'look sharp" and score more
warning CALCULATIONS condensed in one
quick, sharp note of warning. I once
heard "It's chez, chez, when the bob
bies come" sung by fully 100 gypsies.
1t was lovely May morning, balmy, but
crisp, and at & time when every atom of
nature seemed bursting with the prodi-
gal life of spring. It was early, and
but few sounds broke the stiffness of the
camp. The birds above, and rollicking
old tinker below, had it all their own
way. Suddenly the tinker beloved
out:
For its "Chee, chez" when the boobies Gomez
and instantly every member Of the
drowsy camp was astir. Smothered voices
in the close hooded tents took up the
refrain; grinning heads, musical as the
morning, protruded from wrinkly wagon
covers; half dressed gypsies everywhere
came in sight. Every one seemed ready
for frolic. The old tinker repeated
the refrain more and more voices joined; {;
he looked up from his mending mis-
chievously, knowing the power of his
song upon his fellows, and, after petting
some dogs that had bounded to his side
as if with jolly knowledge of what it
all meant, began the song in a voice
that sienced even the sauciest birds of
the neighborhood. Then they all joined,
and never saw or listened to anything
on or off the stage which had tithe of
the same untutored, but wonderful,
dramatic interest. Gradually moving to
the center of the csnp, from every di-
rection came the gypsies, still singing,
every face from spae-wife (old woman)
to chauvis (child) aglow with the i'm
pressible humor the song held for them.
Some of the men sung in wonderful bari
tone, and there were powerful bass
voices heard. The women and children
carried the soprano, rich, hearty, elo-
quent, and many an old woman, raising
her voice to shrill falsetto that thrilled
you, sang clear and true above all the
rest
The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1887-10-05
Proof of Insanity.

He was being examined as to his sani-
ty before jury, and a great deal of evil
dence had been introduced without prov
Ing that his mind was out of repair.
Finally his sister was called upon for her
testimony and was asked: "Do you be-
lieve your brother to be insane"
eyes; l know he is insane"
"What proof do you offer2"
'sBest in the world"
ssLet us hear it."
"Why, just yesterday I heard him tell
his wife that she must really get couple
of new dresses and bonnets and not to
think of the expense"
An application for his admittance to
the asylum was made out at once. -
Nebraska State Journal.
The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1887-10-05
Fifteen Famous American Inventions.

The fifteen great American inventions
of worldwide adoption are: D The
cotton-gin, (2) the planning machine, 90
the grass-mower and reaper, a. the ro-
tary printing press, (5) navigation by
steam, 0) the hot-air engine, (7( the sew
ing-machine, (s) the india-rubbcr indus
try, co. the machine manufacture of
horse shoes, (1O) the sand blast for carv-
ing, 11) the gauge lathe, Q2) the grain
elevator, (13) artificial ice-making on
large scale. Q4 the electric magnet and
its practical application, Q5 the tele-
DhOne
The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1887-10-05

tNo."
"No9 goll Hain't been to New York~
eyes"
"Jiminy, I've never been there, though
saw pretty slick feller from there
once. Them New Yorks is regular
goers, amt theya Any relations there 2"
"Few."
"Goshl Wonder if they know my
cousin Jake. He's getting $40 q week
Jest to walk around a store and look
slick. Your folks ever speak of Jake 2"
"No."
"Jake and me bought some land out
West last year. Ever buy any2"
"No."
'Don't. Jake and me lost $500. It
was way at the bottom of the river.
Ever been Westl"
"Chicago."
"Jee, you hev travelled, amt youf
Father and mother living"
"Father."
"Live in Buffalo"
"No."
"Our folks live together down to
Rochester. My father and mother have
been dead long time. My wife's mother
lives with US. Her names Martin. That
amt your name, eh2"
"No."
II was jest thinking you looked like
man know in Buffalo named Waters.
He amt your brother'"
"No."
"We must be a comm pretty near
Buffalo. That there lot of tracks looks
like it. You don't happen to live on
Main street2"
"No."
"Thsn your name amt Robinsons"
''No."
"You must have a curious kind OF
name. Sure it amt Sanders2"
'Sure"
"Wal, here we be; can I help you
gittin' OFF,
"No, thank you."
+ "Oh, is there door-plate on your
house?"
eyes"
"Name on it2"
eyes"
"P'raps you wouldn't mind tellin'
what the name on the plate isa"'
"Smith."
"Golp-Bufalo Courier.
The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1887-10-05
Poisonous Fishes.

In the exhibition at Havre there is,
says Nature, an interesting collection OF
speciments of poisonous fishes. Some are
poisonous when eaten; Others are merely
venomous. Among the first are many
sparoids, a tetrodon, and many Clupea,
which are abundant near the Cape of
Good Hope. In the Japan Sea is found
o very peculiar tetrodon, which is some.
times used as a means of suicide. It
brings on sensations like those produced
by morphia, and then death.
The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1887-10-05
BUDGET OF FUN.
HUMOROUS SKETCHES FROM
VARIOUS SOURCES.
He Hadn't-A Shoeless Damsel-The
All-Important Question-Proof
Of neutrality-suspicious.
Are Dangerous, Etc.

"Well, my little boy" he said to his
neighbor's son, $50 you've got back
home, eh2"
eyes, SIR"
"Been out in the country rusticating2"
"No, sir; we've been out in the coun-
try living On grandpa's folks. ."-Detroit
Free Press.
The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1887-10-05
His Only Comfort.

London Vanity Fair says that resi-
dence at Balmoral makes the Queen
happy, Princess Beatrice ill-humoredi,
and Prince Henry, of Battenberg, mel,
ancholv. The Prince is said to be bored
by the whole thing, woods and hills in
cluded, and though he shoots a good
deal he is far from deadly among the
grouse He is, therefore, practicing on
glass balls, and his one consolation for
the WEAKNESS of the day is pipe of
strong tobacco when his royal mother.
in-law has retired for the night.
The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1887-10-05
The Two Snails.

She was plump little English snail,
He was Of French extraction;
The channel rolled between them, yet
He loved her to distraction.
He asked her, through the telephone,
In tones of deep emotion,
If she would brave the sea for him,
And cross the stormy ocean.
No, thank you, sir" she coyly said;
II love you, but no matter:
I could not feel ut homo in France,
Where snails are fried in batter"
Little Folks
The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1887-10-05
The All Important Question.

"Charley," she said, softly, 81 often
think what noble thing it is to have a
sphere and fill it as you ought"
"Have you9" returned Charley, after
some study.
eyes. And have oftened wondered
what my particular work in life is"
"Indeedr' replied Charley, after some
hesitation.
"Charley, tell me, do you think am
fitted to make home happy|
II dunno" said he, absently, "can
YOU cook7"-Merchant- 1raveler.
The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1887-10-05
A Shoeless Damsel.

"Would you believe it," exclaimed a
young lady who was fitting herself to a
pair of boots in Clark street store, the
other evening, 'there is Miss Blank,
who lives next door to US on the Boule-
ward, and whose father is so rich-can
you credit it knew her when she
hadn't pair of shoes to her feet"
"Impossible!" replied the dealer,
"were they ever as that poor9 When
was it2"
"Oh, last summer, when we were East
together, and she bathed at The beach at
Newport. Chicago National.
The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1887-10-05

The actual cost of the Imperieuse, Oh,
of tho latest built British ironclads, was
50, sG1, ,625, exclusive of the cost Of arm
amcnt.
The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1887-10-05

Every trace of the Colorado beetle has
been destroyed in Germany by the timely
use of disinfectants and tilling of the
ields in which they first appeared.
The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1887-10-05


so that we would not be interrupted.
The doctor drew up his chair befo re the
guide, and said: .
"You seem to be a very healthy man'"
The guide said he had to be. The
guide business was not an occupation for
invalids.
81 am phsician.. Please allow me to
feel your pulse"
The guide somewhat reluctantly gave
his wrist to the Doctor, who finally took
both the guides hands in his own and
/ looked him straight in the eyes, while
lis fingers seemed to caress the horny
palms Of the guide.
The Swiss seemed very uneasy for few
moments but at last his stalwart frame
appeared to subside in his chair, and as
the Doctors face moved closer to his the
guides eyes became fixed and CLASSY. 1t
was intensely silent in the room.
! At last the Doctor moved his open
hands before the guides face, and the
disengagcd hands of the Swiss fell list
lcssly to his sides. His eyes closed.
You cannot stand up" said the
DOCTOR"
The man moved heavily. but seemed
rooted to his chair.
'It is the 10th of August, 1s-"
eyes," said the guide, hoarsely.
"You took a party across the glacier
that day, didn't you2"
"No," said the guide, in the same
sepulchral voice.
t'What" cried the Doctor in surprise
"Didn't you take the party across the
glacier and come back by the .->>rt cut2"
"No," said the guide.
"Weren't you and your brother to
take a party up the glacier that after
noon?"
No." said the guide.
The Doctor was nonplussed. He
thought he had mistaken the date, and
asked ME if it was correct.
"The date is the one he gave US. ASK
him what he did that day2"
"What did you do that day?"
"There was not much to do then.
Chamonix was not much sought. There
were no accidents for long time. Accl-
dents bring the people. My brother
Rudolph, he was the clever one of the
family. He said he must have an acci'
Get He is the clever one; 1 am the
The Dallas daily herald. [volume] (Dallas, Tex.) 1873-1887, 1887-11-12
Growing Potatoeo.

A farmer in Massachusetts gives
the following as the results OF his eI'
perisnce in growing potatoes during
several years past:
al. Whole potatoes will produce
crop week or ten days earlier than
those which are divided. 2. Small
whole potatoes will produce results as
good, II not better, than large ones.
B. The seed end is the better one to
plant, because it starts with more
vigor and produces more and larger
potatoes. 4. A large piece is better
on ordinary soil than small pieces or
eyes. 8. Potatoes with sprouts long
enough to break of in planting are
not so good as those with eyes ad.
vanced just enough to indicate vigor.
9. The form cannot, as a rule, be
changed by planting any particular
form 7. Two distinct varieties won't
mix in the same hill. 8. The more We
investigate the scab the less we know
about it."
The Dallas daily herald. [volume] (Dallas, Tex.) 1873-1887, 1887-11-12
FARM AND HOUSEHOLD.
Curative Information.

Ne living insect enter the ear It
may 'The Farmers Review" men-
tions, be stupcfied by a few pufis OF
tobacco smoke or dI owned and float
ed to sight with warm water. Or
drop or more OF sweet or castor oil
will cut of its power OF breathing and
mischief
Bleeding from q severe cut may be
stopped by tying bandage over the
cut quite tightly. The powder from
puff ball applied to the cut, which is
then bound with a bandage, will
quickly arrest the bleeding; sugar,
powdered copperas, or spiders web
will also stop the flow OF blood. II
the blood comes in spurts an artery
is cut, and the bandage should be
above the wound; otherwise the band
age should be below it when the bleed
ing is severe.
There is said to be no better medi-
cine for persons who are troubled with
biliousness and liver complaint then
lemon juice. 1t excites the liver, slim
ulates the digestive organs, and tones
up the system generally. 1t is men
toned as d curefor sick headache, the
juice OF hall lemon being put in
glass OF water, without sugar. Lemon
juice and sugar, mixed very thick, is
useful to relieve coughs and sore
throats.
"The Western Rural" publishes q
Hint about Health which not only
costs nothing but has the added ad'
vantage OF saving money for those
who act upon il: "Do what we may
for pure air, water and food, people
will never be we'll, so long as they con-
tinue to drench themselves with drugs,
nostrums, and health waters, ton
les and stimulants OF every kind that
enterprising manufacturers and drug
gists recommend in their ingenious
and plausible rhetoric. Whatever the
show window or placard invites you
to try under some taking title or pre-
tence, refer it to indicious physician,
and then if he says take it-don't."
A correspondent writes that he had
long been troubled with an inactive
liver, which gave him world OF pain
and trouble, until he was advised to
take a glass OF hot water with the
Juice OF half a lemon squeezed into it,
but without sugar, night and morn.
ing. He tried it, and found himself
better almost Immediately. His daily
headaches, which medicine had failed to
cure, left him; his appetite improved,
and he gained several pounds IN
weight within q few weeks.-Good
Housekeeping.